Forest Rules 1979 (No. 1 of 1979)

L D.-B. 203/33. THE FOl~EST ORDINANCE Rules under section 20 (l) RULES made bv the Minister of Lands and Land Deve lopment by virtue of powers vested in him by sectios 20 (1) of the Forest Ordinance (Chapter 451), ee amended by Act No. 13 of Hl66 and Act No. 56 of 19711. GAl\UNl DISSAN:\ Y!\KE, Minister of Lands and Land Development. Colornb. 7.11..l97!>. Eules 1. (l) These rules may be cited as Forest Rules, No. 1 of 1979. r~) These nl~(:~ shall apply to fnr~sts not inr luded in a resrvod or ."m:lge forest. 1 ~::'''),()c,): (I) ~;:'i~-0 c·~' ~;i1'-~1:;;~'0"-") ~~'~~11~ ~:.")j;S~d .'.;) C~ )~ I.'.':';:; ;;,:·:::~-··I!)j:J,l.!.~ti :: A P~lT I: S::c (1)-G.\Zl:: rn: 1:: xru :\OJtl)INU~Y OF rur: 01::~1OC:B:\l'IC SOCI.\J.IST Hi:: PU HUC O~'l;lU 1.:\~1\::\-1 ~7~. I:!.~ 2. No person shall. for the purpose of cu!tiva~ion. clear or break up the soli of any forest except with the \vritten permissioii or-the Government Agent, the Conservator of Forests or an officer not below the rank of Divisional Forest Officer. . 3, No person shall cut. dear or set fire to cr cause any other person to cut. clear or set lire to ;In)' for~sl without a permit or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of such permit. 4, (l) Every holder of a permit to clear. cut or set fire to a chena slnll be entitled to the free use. of timber or other Iorcst produce ('eUed 01' lying within such boundaries of such chena in accordance with the conditions of such permit. (2) No holder of anv such permit shall remove any timber or other Iorcst produce outside the boundaries of his chena for any purpose whatsoever Without, n permit for such removal duly obtained 01' otherwl~e than in accordance with the conditions of such permit. S. A permit to clear. cut or set fire to a chcnn shall 11e in such Iorrn as t he Government Agent of c •• ell Administrative ..District may prescribe for the whole or any part of that District and may b2 issued by any .of the following officers : (n) a Government' Agent in respect of I::,,: Ioresrs within his Administrative Disu ict : (b) an Assistant Government Agent or a Divisionul Revenue OmCN or a duly authorised Gram', Seva Nibdllari in respect of Iorcst ·... :Ihin hi, Division. 6. No person "hall kindle a fu e or cause a:1Y o:llI:r person to kindle a fn e in any forest in ~ny circums lances likely to cause il!iy danger of such fire ~:):·eachw: and c:lll::in;( d~mi1ge to any forest or other r roperty of whatever kind whether b('lon~in~ to the :;tal(' or to illlY other penon. or shall omit or cause nny other person to omit to take all reasouable pn't';I::llons to prevent such fire irom ~preading alld 'h;:I~ sudl damage. 7, (1) No person shall fell, cut, girdle, lop, tap or .damage by lire 01' otherwise collect. r('I:)ove or trans port any tree or saw or convert the ti'l1ber of any trel' or cause any of the foregoing acts to be done, in any Forest exccpt on a permit duly obtained for th~ purpose or otherwise than III accordance with the condit ions of such permit. (2) Every pel"lml issued under this rule shall be ill such form as Inay b'! appro\'ed for the plIIpose by the 'Conservator of Forests and may be signed by a GO\'ern ment Agent, Divisional Revenue Officer. an authorised Grama SeV:l Nilad!lnri 01' n duly authol j;;l'd forest officer, within \'.'ho<<.- il"ea of authority th(' fOJ(~"t ;; situated. 8. (l) No per':0:; sh"il collect, appropriatl'. rl':nO\'': or transport le3\'c;. plants, flowers, fruit!'. seeds, reots, juice, catechu, bark, glJm, resin, varnish l:lc, honey, wax, grass, creepers, tusks, horns, shed homs, edible birds' nesls 01' any other forest produce except on a permit duly obtained fa I' the purpose or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of such permit. (2) Every p:':lmi' 1ssued under lhis rule shal1 be in such form as may be apPl'oved for the purpose by the Conservator of Forests and may he signed b)' a Go\'ern ment Agent, DiVisional nevenu~ Officer, an authorised Grama Seva Niladhari or a dull' authorised forest officer within whose area of authority th.: forest is ~iluated, 9, (1) No person shall erect 01' occupy a house 01' hut in any forest except with the writ len permission .1)f the Government Agent or a forest officer not below the rank of DiviO::~:lil! FC':o.:-:.: 1):1io:e;o. , (2) Any PN=-OI1 occupying a house or hut. so erected" ~n:tJl qurt such house or hut within one month of the rr.ccipt c.'i :t written no lice requiring hrrn to do so frona any forest officer rctcrred to in paragrnph (I). 10. (I) No penon shall. quarry, collect, or remove ;tIl .... stone, or coral, 01' remove any peat. surface soil. or nunerats. or subject ;':1)' of the nrcrcmentioncd It)1 ('51 produce to any manufacturing process, or cause a nv other person to do any of the aforesaid acts, ill ;!n)' Iorcsts except 0:1 a permit duly obtained for the pur pose or otherwise than in accordance \\;ith the con c:ltiollS of such permit. (2) Every permit issued under this rule shall be i such form as may be approved for the purpose by the Conservator of Forests and may be signed by the Government A~cnt. Divisional Revenue Officer, aJlI authorised Grama Seva Niladhari or a dulv authorlsed forest officer within whose area of authorrty the Iorcst is situated. (3) The conditions set out in any permit iss lied .::H::'r I:,i~ rule 11'~~' include il condition requiring the pcrmit h"lder to hjl III' ;,ny pit dug by him in the course 01 ~IIY of the acts authorised by the permit 01' :0 cirmn ·~a ;PIY water cr,!!,.'c!l'd in such pit into the .:Cilrf~t nut ural (.ir'pressic,n. (~) Whcre the condition re.-ferl'l:d til in p;nilgraph (3) :~ II) be inserted in any permit. the Government Agent '.1' t!l!' Divi-iunal Forest Of:ir:er may before is:;uillg sucb !;trmit require tlle aPI~li::at:t tt) deposit with him a ~um uf mo::~:: l'~ll1;d 10 the es:inwt'~cJcost oC lillin!: up or ,;:'<linin;; o~r suvh pits a~ lif;"ly.,-;r.-e!U~ in the course 0( t he iich to 1;.:: ;,\::hon~('r1 by the permit, as sccui i ... for the performance of that condition, (5) (ell Where t he conciitions referred to in para ::raph (3) is fu!lii\ed to the satisfaction of tile Govcrruucnt A::e:lt or the Divisional FOl'e3t Uilicc.r. t l«. (le!:I·~.t Iliad..: by a permit holder under \l'IS rule ~'i:lll be rcf undxl to the pl?rmit holder by SUl'h dfkcr. (oJ \\'here th';: l'olldition is 1101 fulfilled to the s:Jtis faction !If the GO','('mment Acent or the Divi siollol FfJf('st Oflir::t'I', such ollker may cause to be t'ani0d Ollt all liuch \<'Ol'k as the pel'mit holder may be boulld to carry out under the aforesaid conditio:), nne! may recover the cosl thereof flOIl1 the cJq,osit made by the pel'mit 11IJickr, :llld refund such balall,:,e ••s lllay 1hCti ((,lI1ain to tlH! PCI!"lIit hold~r, (6) The Govcllim('lIt A~('nt or the Di\'isiollal Forest Officer lI1<:y lefu,e 10 issllC: .1 p::rmit if an applh:ant fails lo m:lke the deposit n:quired under paragraph (4). Ii. (1) No pel~'."1 sholl! :UII d"!I·cQal or litl1e 01' nt:tke 1.'l"Ick;; 01' til,'s tIl' t'a:l"c al\:: nlh.:r person to do any sud. ;1ct, ill ;;!lY !ul"o'i ~:,':LOI)l ')1) ;1 permit c!llly ub~ainecJ for Ihe p:n 1'0-..: 0:' u: 11 c: 1'1'. ise ;h:'1\ ill accurd;1I1ce with tbe condiliC'lls of St:lll pcrm't. (2) E\Oery permit issu:d under lhis I'ule shan b~ i. such form as may be approved for the purpose by the Conservator of Forests ar.d may be signed by the Gove rnment IV'cnt elf the Division:JI Rcvenue Ollicer 01' any authorisL •• Gl':Jma Seva Nilndhari or a duly authorised forest ollicel' within whose Oll'ea of authority the forert is situated. 12. (l) The Government Agent may with the s:.mclio. of the Ministcl' by notification puzlishcd in the Gaz:elte and ,i.n. such other manner. as may be calcuhlted to give PUbliClt)' thereto, declare :In)' specified portion of a forest to b~ an area reserved lor, the pasturing of c:lttle. and preSCribe the fees to be- paid fol' the pasturing ot cattle, thel'ein 01' for the cut!inlJ and removal of wa!W th'!':'';'fl'omo 4 A I ""~Irt;: (I) (;,~·~I.:-S: U::"'1 1 S~;-"~"\I:;'-,'£::"'~ l.:>0:l.!OI~ l~::,")0;i,-d <;5 0~~~(; (.~(:,.)() (;'S...:-I~lj~I,12,~!i l'Ar.T I: SI:C, (1)G,\ZE 1"1'1:: E.'i.TR\OP. DIN.\H Y UF TlIE DE~IOCR:\TIC:SOCIt\ I.!~T HJ::l'UIJLlC OF :)J.: I L.\:\K :\-I!Ji!l. I:!, (2) No person shnll pasture cattle or cut gross in any area so declared or remove grass therefrom, or cause any other person to do any such act. except on a permit duly obtained for thc purpose or otherwise than in accordance with thc conditions of such permit. (3) Every permit iS5u2c1 under Ihis rule shall be in such form ?-5 mav be approved for thc pu rpose by t he Conservator of Forests and may be signed by the Government Aceut or the Divisional Revenue c5mcer or an authorised Grama Seva Niladhari within whose area of authority the forest is situated., 13, (1) The Government Agent may, with the sanc tion of tho Minister, by notification publ ishcd in the Gazette and in such other manner as may be calculated to give publicity thereto, declare any Iorest or any specified portion of a forest to be an <:1'(', in which the pasturing of cat lie and the cutting of grass are prohibited, (2) No person shall pasture cattle or cui grass in any area so dcclarcd or remove f..r<\S3 therc:'r«m. 14, No person shall use poison of any J,:i:~:i \\'113150 . ever for the caprure 01' the destruction of f;~h in ,in:.; ",'a tel's situated in any forest. 15. (l) N,) !lU',,":1 sha ll il:;e l:xplusivcs t·r ;'n:. k ind for the destruct ionn of an.mals or of fish within "Il\' forest. . (2) No person shall use explosives 0[ ;~I;:: kind for blasting rocks or for any other similar I'u!";:::.:e in anv Iorcst without special ;)crmission therefor ob:;:;:1::d Irom the Divisional Forest Officer or the Governmcnt Agent writing, 16, (1) The Ce'!lscrvatfJr of Forc,t or th.~ Go\,(!l'll ment Agent nwy i<;~uc a free er~.Il!. fl'\)n1 ,::y f'jrcsl. of any trecs 01' limbe.' 10 meet tile requ!:·.';IIl:nts vI" the Forest Dt:partmcnt, nnd of non -schcd.: lC'd t! cC's to (a) the Survey Dcp:ll"tlllC'nt for tilL' purpose of putting up C:Hnps and E'reding ::t"gcs in con:l':,::ioll \';ith surveys; nn<1 (b) the De;:-::ll"tllicnt of Agriculllll'l: :tnd th-:- D(:pJrt Incnt (t Anim:tl Produclj'~:l ;"In!"! Heo;;::il for the cons1ruction of huts, well sweeps, fc:~ces ond the likc in any agricultural station 0;' farm, (2) No free gra!lt of timber siD!) bl! l11:!de to any Government DC:J):irtmcnt othe1' thJ!1 the 1),,:;:'1'10::2:1:5 referred to in p~;ragraph (1), ' 17, (1) It shall be lawfnl for the Conservator Forests, anv onicel' not u'.!low the nll1k of DivisiOJ1'l1 Forcst Officer 01" the GO\"l'rnment Agent to i.lllQ\\' fr::e grants of ~rhechl!cd ')1' l:o:l-s:'h'2dukd Ir':(;; VI' t101rt);!".1'!')nr., corai, pcal. ~Ilrf;;;.~ s:)iJ. l'!" mi;,,'!","::. ;;nd f'J!' :,~y Di':i !iQi'lal R·~\·:..~!''.!tJ~ C)!1i;.·Cl" :H~th('ri~'~<.l t!;"r(\to III ", ':'itin~ b-/ th~ Gf)·\·crnn~'?!it J\;'f.~nl to cdlo\~: :-r~;.! gr:,n~;,;. of J~:):l·­ ~ch~du~~~d trt"'S .-:" !:1i1b:-~i·. frunl ;:.::y fori:~:t ~'::~. ;~::y \..I! the following l~ul"!)O:lSes: (a) the construction of villazc huts or well s'.veeps or of fence and c~ittle p:ms nne! tlle Iikp. fo:" domes tic or agric\'.ltur~1 PlliPOS:'S by rcs:dcnt \'i1la~els 0 .. own~r$ of fields in viU,"gzs; or (b) wcrl,s of public utility such ='s villn~~ u:'idges, !::OlTY boats and c::no:?s, nmb:!:arns (\':h~:l th('~:? nrc no! c;'cctpcl by pI i\';!!c ,~:'rS~lI\'i .-S \\'OI',S of pic::"', nnd in :::. c' . ",''': ,.: .. '::': :'. in which the Cc::scl"vatol' of F(TC:;ts or the Government Agent m"y deem it proper to ~ive such. aid: Provid!!d th'it no fl'ee grnnt sh,1l be a'low12d for any purp:J5':! of tl"adf.' or for th:? con<:h'lIction of any bllq::lin~ for religious Plll'POS~S 01' of an" hOI:s~, b"i(h!~, fern' 0.' b":1t for the u~e (\f which f",e5 cr tolls ;11'~ levied: Provided further th:lt no fr~e gl':tflt shall be rnado to any Village COUll':.!, or other public body to which an annual {;r~::-.t is made from publ:c revenue or to any public inst itution ma i nt aincd hy the Govcrur.icnt or for the maintenance of which a contribution is made [rom the public revenue. (2) Notw.t hstanding the preceding provisions of this rule, the Conservator of Forests or any omcer autho rised by him for the purpose may, upon application made In that behalf allow a Irce gr:l:lt of schedule or non-scheduled trees 01' 1)( limber Icr the nurposc of const i urt:I1'; " s·~l:001 building for a nv school or for the PUiPOS!: of making any extensions'to any existing buildings of any school, H ea) the ar;p!ic::tiol1 is made by any Rural Develop men: Society or by the Parent Teachers' Asso ChIlO!! of such school or by a ny ether similar body, and (b) the plans and specifications relating to such u~li:di!1~:' or such extensions. as .. ;.; .... ("~~ nl:-~~· he, hav !;~t'n ;'!Jpl"o\'rr.l <:::1l1 t he <:j1!'lic:alloll lin:! bo..n rr·cOI,~ITI~'nd('d, b," 111:: Director of Educa lion, (3) N'o:\\'ith~!::lldin;; the preceding provisions of this rule, the> Cons-rvutor of Forests 01' anv o Ticer authori sed hy him fer t):e :;lIr(lo~c may, upon';:,pplic;ltion made III th:ll. b::h:!:r !;:: a Ru ral j),;w·]vpn.'::H Society or other smlll:'J" !lo:ly, allow a free gr:.·!;t of timhar [IJr the purpos« ()f ct:':'stI'u~lin~~ a hl1i!d~n~ il~;' an:..· \\'0:~\'iilg centre, indust rin l centre oi· any work of puhlic utility for the pt:I F~l~:' of !l1:d;jn~ any '::':1.-!:.si:~::s to a ny sllch existing blli~din;!, if-· (i) the t::!::!' is (li"~ whore the 1::1)·)\11' Ior such ('1,:1-;" true-tir':l \':<.'r1·: is pre)"..iel":d ir'." ;;: such Sor icty or ~lil:! I' IJody nnrl t h« Ger;cI:'!\)'::1t cClllribl:tl's only i:J:? materials or th:- ';"I)~t t1l':?rcof, not c~:l'.!r.::j:~·; ~~·..ellty fin: p(;r CI·.:::::11 of lhe :'.,!al cost; (ii) thc P"lllS ,wd ~pec:incations rclatiil·' to the build i!lg !J:1\'e b2r::n ;!ppro\'cd by ::1'! appropriate dep;!rtm::nt; and (iii) til'::, ;!pl'lic:Jtioll hus bcen J"c:.o:!J::lcnded \;y the CJO\·"!·llJ~lC'lJt :\gr.·llt of th~ l\dl"::lni.s~rdtivc IJi:.; tlict fro:n \';hcrc the timb:·!" I:> to b:? obtaincu, (4) The CO!1Scr\'a:or of F"::1'csts or <In\' OthC1' ofJiccr authoris··d. by, hil:l for the I'lI1"j):13e !lu:'-'-lIPOIl nppika lion m:ld~ 111 tl1:!t lJ::h:llf ;lIlow, a free £:r,:nt of scheduled or non-schcdulcd tr::;?s or poles to ilny rcsid;?l1t villa(!cr whosc iwu;;c h::s bl;€11 dal1la~ed b\' noo~s or by natural dis3st~r if- ~. I The ill:plication hos been rccommended by the Go\'crnment Agent of the Administrative District in whic~ hc rC.5idcs ~nd by the Govcrnment Aqent of the AdmllHstrallve District from where the limber is to be? obt<lincd, IS. Any resident ':~llag~r ll~i!Y ('onc..t f:'ee of royalty i!!1(! ·,·:Jill~t:t a pC;'n:lt, nny furcst p:·e(:~:cc other than trc~~, t'J~!:51 ru:·: \"0:l1icCl, ~)\"a:'~I!n (rt:l,1\Var3) hJrk. 1'1)<::" s!vnc, r:',r:I1, F(·;;t surf:!~'(' ,'"i! (;:. mineral (-lora ;:ny forest situ:1tcd withi!l OJ r:.!dius v! thrce miles of the pluce iil which he residcs, ,19. Any residcnt \'il!ager may g:!ther d~ad or rullen sticks for fu.el [rom any fcrest situatl"d \';i\hin a radius of three mllf,; from the? place in which be resid(!s or owns 01' cultl\'atcs In:ld, 2(1, The COi1sCl"Vn\OI' or F0l"!"!<: '~1:'" ··.··lh th~~ ~:!:~(. t:n~l "r ~~:' ? :~-r ... 1· .... " . . ' , J) oI,tL:<, ur O\llf!l p.!~,Ill':IIlS III rc::ipe;:t of the ('cil::(:lion of f,'lr"sl p:'od~l::e ,.n:l ~h~ 11I<Jllncr in which such [e"s 1'0y.. lli~3 er O\llcr pnyments sinll be made, • • 2~,(.l)E\'cry permit, i~sued under these ru'es shall be S~~.lC~ t to s~rh ,con~ltlons as mny be l;pecitiC?d in such I:Cllnit :",eI .. I:V lllfl'ln~~mcnt of :lI1Y of t h'! !;:'I;'I conrli t1on~ shall be? d·:·cmcd to be nn offence punishable undc sectlon 21 (If the }o'orest Ordinance, r (2) Any permit may be re-issued for such further pcrrod- as may ,be endorsed the.reon by the Gov~rnment Ace ro t or DivisIonal Forest Officer and such rc-rssue-i (r.) may be free of charge in any case where :10 charge was made tor the issue of the permit origlna!!y ; and (oj shall be subject ill all other cases to such further fee or royalty. not exceeding ten per centum of the fcc or royalty payable i!l respect of the orrginc l permit, as may be prescribed under rule ~O, T:1e rules relating to forests published ill GC::i?i:c £:,::.: ':0rdi:lC1r~1 1\0, H,707Ii of August 29th 1%13, ;'5 subsequently amended, are hereby rescinded. :l !:: t!l'?S'~ :::!':5 unless th:: co ntcxt other \'::;e r.:>qlllfcs ,. Government A~ellt .. with rctcrcncc to an Adllli:li~­ trativc Distr ict inc ludcs all adc.iuonal Govern men t A~cllt. Dr ~:! :\~"jsl~~~t Govcr nmt n t Agent of S<.;<.::I Adrninist rat ivc Districts; .. authorised Grama Seva Ni ladhar i " means :;:1\' Grama Seva Ni ladhari duly appointed by th:.! Government Agent to discharge any functions of a forest officer under these rules ill respect of ;:J;:\" .orcst situated \':It!:in his Grarna Scva N'iladhort Division : ...no jcr Iorcst prod lice " means timber and firewood, roots oi trees, charcoal, tusks, shed horns, seeds of IIUX vomica and the barks of Cassia (rana wara or a va rnm ) and Rhisophorn (kadol ) : .. D11:10r for est produce" Il'lC<lnS:l1i forest produce other than "m:ljor forest prociuce " ; .. scheduled n cc " means any u ce Io r the t im-: heing included ill Schedule II to tho Forest 0: (i i n<lllce; and .. non-scheduled t rec ' means 01,... tree other than a .. scheduled tree ", . .. forest produce " means major and minor Iorest produce, l':·-';(~Jl~